Drivers

Declaration of Emergency Signed Over I-43 Bridge Closing

Wisconsin Gov Scott Walker has signed a declaration of emergency for the Leo Frigo Bridge along Interstate 43 in Green Bay.

The declaration makes the bridge eligible for federal Emergency Relief funds to make the necessary repairs. The funds are administered by the Federal Highway Administration and would reimburse all costs for the first 180 days of the project.

“The Leo Frigo Bridge is a critical transportation link for motorists and commerce in Brown County and the state of Wisconsin, and we are committed to fixing this bridge in a timely and responsible manner,” said Walker

Department of Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb said, “We are mobilizing state and federal resources to quickly assess the bridge. The bridge will remain closed, however, while our engineers and regional bridge experts develop a plan for the necessary repairs.”

The bridge was closed to all vehicle traffic on September 25 when a bridge pier had settled on the eastern side of the bridge, causing detours heading both northbound and southbound along I-43. There is no indication when the bridge could reopen.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says equipment is now in place on the span to monitor any bridge movement.

The equipment will send signals to a computer to record data and should the device detect any movement. As of noon Sunday, no further movement was detected on the bridge. Crews are still working to determine the cause of one of the piers sinking about two feet.